After a remand from the 8th Circuit, the district court in Minnesota struck the state law that provides advantages to wineries who made their wine primarily from Minnesota grapes. The opinion by Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright on competing motions for summary judgement avoided discussion of the 21st Amendment and found strict scrutiny appropriate due to…Read More
Minnesota District Court Strikes Law Requiring Minnesota Wine be Made From Minnesota Grapes
Amended Complaint, Answer, and Counterclaims In Connecticut Distributor-Brewer Dispute
There has been a counterclaim by ABI, an Amended Complaint by Dichello and an Answer by Dichello in the pending dispute over the ABI equity agreement. The case will move towards discovery on the various claims and counterclaims. At the heart of the issue is if the contract provisions whereby ABI purports to control the manager…Read More
13th Annual Center for Alcohol Policy Conference Moved Online
Alas, another event is impacted by COVID. The 13th Annual Center for Alcohol Policy Law and Policy Conference will take place virtually over the course of four Wednesdays in September. Topics include discussions of the alcohol law cases found on this website. Please find more information and register here. (Previous Post) Save the Date! Center…Read More
TTB Secures $5 Million Fine and Suspensions for Trade Practice Violations
The Alcohol Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) recently secured a large settlement with Anheuser-Busch for various violations of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAAA). The TTB and ABI negotiated an offer in compromise where AB agreed to pay a fine of $5 million in settlement of various allegations of trade practice violations. Moreover, the specific…Read More
United States Supreme Court Denies Certiorari for Monster’s Appeal of Loss in 9th Circuit Related to Failure to Disclose Conflict in Arbitration Dispute
The Supreme Court has denied certiorari in the appeal by Monster Energy from its loss at the Ninth Circuit related to failure to disclose possible arbitration conflicts. Monster had filed this appeal to the Supreme Court. It was joined by an amicus brief filed by the arbitration company JAMS. The case was considered by the…Read More